Introduction to Ancient & Heritage Grains

Sat. Oct. 30 10am-2pm, FREE with $5 donation at gate.

The light and temperatures are changing, signaling the arrival of autumn when we harvest bountiful summer crops and soon plant winter crops. At Mission Garden, we celebrate the harvest of Tohono O'odham 60-day Corn grown over the summer, and hasten to prepare the field to plant White Sonoran Wheat and Magdalena Barley.

Two special guest speakers will join us on this day at Mission Garden. At 10am, Carlos Figueroa will demonstrate the process of making fresh corn tortillas from our heritage corn. From 10am to noon you can actually taste a tortilla right off the hot comal!

At noon Carlos will speak about the process and why he founded his heritage tortilla business: Maiz Tucson.

Then, at 1pm we will learn from seed saver, writer, and educator Bill McDorman about the secrets inside ancient grains of the Southwest (and from around the world). Bill will share about how we can partake, participate, and enjoy the diversity of beautiful grains. He will describe the history and importance of White Sonora Wheat and other varieties brought to the Santa Cruz River Valley by early settlers.

Bill McDorman is the former executive director of Native Seeds/SEARCH and Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance. He is author of the book Basic Seed Saving.